FAQ Section

How often should I replace CAT 5 Cables?

[Q] How often should I replace my CAT 5 Patch Cables?

[A] Many factors will effect how long a Patch Cable will
last, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow
to help.

One
of the biggest factors influencing the life span of a Patch
Cable will be how often it is unplugged from a device. The physical
act of removing and reinserting an RJ45 plug into the jack of
a Patch Panel, Router, Network Adapter or any other similar
device will cause an expected amount of wear and tear on the
plug. Some of this wear will be to the molded head of the plug,
and some of the wear will be seen on the copper contacts. For
this reason, many server rooms will be stocked with extra cables.

Bending
and flexing of the cable will also effect how quickly it will
wear out. Patch Cables can be constructed of both Solid
and Stranded copper conductor, and no matter which one you use,
the copper can only handle a certain amount of bending and flexing
before it will break. This is why it is considered a good idea
to leave long runs of cable "in place" once they are
positioned.

Excessive
traffic across the cable can cause real problems. If you are
using long pieces of cable across a floor, catwalk, crawlspace
or similar arrangement for a "temporary run", you
need to be careful to protect the cable from physical abuse.
Covering the cable with conduit or step plates will help keep
your cable looking and performing well.

Many
IT professionals, along with IT purchasing specialists, will
often choose to use entirely new cables each time a server room
is reconfigured, or if devices are being rearranged in large
quantities that would serve to disturb the stable platform of
cable bundles within it. Many other IT experts will refuse to
reuse old cables simply because they want the best possible
performance each time they make a connection.

Do
your research first, and then decide which option is right for
you.

CAT
5 Cable company is committed to quality, and will always use
the best materials in the construction of your cables.